The Atlanta Hawks took on the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, where they lost 97-105. It was a back-and-forth evening that ended with the away team emerging victorious.
Heading into the in-conference matchup, it was made known that the Hawks would be without another key contributor. On top of the injuries to Trae Young and Nikola Durisic, Coach Snyder revealed during his pregame availability that Luke Kennard would miss the game with an illness.
Both Young and Kennard play important rotation minutes, not just for their elite shooting, but for their impressive abilities as playmakers. With both of them missing from the lineup, it was expected that Atlanta would lean on forward Jalen Johnson more than usual.
Johnson showcased his all-around impact, making his presence felt
Jalen got off to a hot start. In the first quarter, he saw a heavy load of on-ball responsibility. In 8 minutes of action, Atlanta's point-forward recorded 8 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. He was impactful on both ends, helping his squad stay competitive early.
Jalen Johnson is pretty much getting wherever he wants on offense.
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) November 8, 2025
He began to take more risks with the ball in his hands during the second quarter. He was operating as the point guard in a lineup that consisted of several bigs. With this added level of pressure, Johnson picked up four turnovers in a three-minute span.
His progression as a playmaker was never going to be linear. This was a role that he was not expected to thrive in heading into his rookie season. Years later, his growth has been incredible, but not always perfect.
His role as a shot creator is even greater now with Trae Young out for at least the next month. Quin Snyder values his versatility as a player, and that was evident in Friday night's game. Despite having a rough second quarter, Atlanta stuck with him as one of their top offensive generators in the second half.
His first made basket of the half was a three, pushing him up to 11 points for the night. Seeing a shot fall from deep had to feel good for Johnson, as that has been his biggest weakness through the first two weeks of the season. Heading into Friday's matchup, Johnson was averaging a career-low 20.0% from outside.
The league is not ready for Jalen Johnson to have a consistent outside shot like he has tonight.
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) November 8, 2025
Just minutes later, he knocked another one down to push the lead back to double digits. He looked confident out there all night despite some rough sequences. As soon as he left the floor in the third, Atlanta gave up a big run with Toronto cutting the lead back within two.
It was a nightmarish final quarter for the Hawks. Toronto went on an 18-2 run to take a commanding lead with under five minutes to go, despite trailing for most of the game. Johnson was keeping hope alive for the Hawks, converting on a clutch and-one with a few minutes remaining.
Despite the efforts, it was not enough to secure an important win. Atlanta now sits at 4-5 on the season and 1-1 in NBA Cup group play. Jalen Johnson finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and four assists on quality efficiency.
Atlanta has a long road ahead without their star guard. It will not always be pretty, but Hawks fans have nothing to worry about, as Jalen Johnson will continue to grow into this newfound role and keep this team competitive.